The prefix hypo- means “beneath, below, or under.” It can be traced back to the Greek prefix hupo-, from the word hupo, meaning “beneath, under.” A few English words, such as hypocrite, hypocrisy, and hypochondria, come from Greek words using hupo-. But most English words beginning with hypo- have been made up by scientists and physicians. Hypo- either means “below or under,” as in hypodermic, or “less than normal,” as in hypoglycemia.
